Agenda item

Arpana Rai (Member, KYCC Transport Committee), Charlotte Swaine (Member, KYCC Transport Committee), Claude Evele (Vice Chair, KYCC Transport Committee), Joseph Horsnell (Chair, KYCC Transport Committee) and Sadie Williams (Youth Participation Worker, Kent County Council) were in attendance for this item.

The Chairman welcomed the guests to the Committee. Sadie began by introducing the representatives of the KYCC Transport Committee: Claude (Vice Chair), Joseph (Chair), Charlotte and Arpana.

Joseph detailed the recent work of the KYCC Transport Committee. The Committee had collected research through its Travel Information Collection Survey and developed case studies as supporting evidence.  The Committee had met with public transport companies including Arriva, Nu Venture, Stagecoach and Southeastern who had provided them with positive feedback about their research.  The Committee had circulated a presentation about behaviour on public transport to all Year 6 students before they started secondary school; an evaluation would be completed to measure its success. The Committee had contributed to the establishment of the Young Persons Travel Card and had raised concerns about the cost of the card. The Committee was also promoting green travel particularly cycling; a z card on cycling safety information had been produced.

Q – What are the key targets of the Committee?

A - Joseph explained that the Committee’s role was to voice the concerns raised by their electorate. He noted that transport was voted every year as a campaign of the KYCC and it was an area that young people felt passionate about.

Q – Respondents to your survey highlight that public transport services, particularly school services, are often late. Does this just happen in September or is it all year round?

Arpana explained that there were constant delays throughout the school year due to traffic. She stated that difficulties in getting to school impacted negatively on students’ motivation at school. She highlighted that some recipients were also concerned about the safety and maintenance of the vehicles being used by the bus companies as there had been incidences of buses catching fire.

Q – Are schools understanding when students arrive late at school due to public transport?

A – Joseph explained that it varied between schools. He stated that his school was very strict and students were penalised for being late despite it being out of their control.  Claude noted at his school, they were aware of the problematic routes and students were penalised for being late. He reported that there was a bus from Chartham to Canterbury where students were regularly late three times a week and did not arrive until the second lesson.

Q – What prevents young people travelling to school by bike?

A – Joseph explained that it was not the distance or bike storage facilities that prevented young people from cycling to school; it was that young people did not feel safe on the roads. He stated that motorists did not respect young cyclists and there were not enough cycle lanes for young cyclists to use.

Q – Is the Transport Committee aware of the cost of the Young Person’s Travel Pass (YPTP) to Kent County Council?

A – Joseph explained that the Committee was aware of the cost of the pass per child to Kent County Council and recognised that it was expensive. He stated that the YPTP was a vital service for young people particularly for low income families. He reported that the Committee’s focus had moved away from campaigning to reduce the cost of the pass to improving the quality of the pass. He reported that the last price increase was poorly explained to parents and young people. He noted that the current price was manageable for most families but it was still expensive particularly the 16+ Travel Card. 

Q – Do you think there is a role in schools using their minibuses for transporting students to and from school?

Joseph explained that it would be unrealistic for most school due to the financial pressure they were under; they would not be able to pay for the petrol and drivers to provide transport.

Q – Should schools use their post 16 funding more effectively and provide transport?

A - Joseph explained that any measures that helped young people get to school, particularly those from a low income family, would be welcome.

Q – Are there any alternatives to the YPTP?

A - Charlotte explained that lots of young people used the YPTP to get them to and from school. She noted that if she was not able to use the YPTP, she would have to walk one hour each way; she was aware of students who travelled for two hours each way to school. She suggested that a cheaper weekly bus ticket for students would be useful.

Joseph stated that the Committee was researching alternatives.  He was aware of a scheme in Milton Keynes  where young people aged 11 – 21 were given an ‘MK All in One’ card for free; when using the card young people received a concessionary fare and every journey cost £1. He noted that the card could also be used as ID which was useful for young people.

Q – Would young people be willing to pay more for the YPTP if it included travel during the evenings, weekends and school holidays?  

A – Joseph stated that it would depend on the options and it would be a good idea if young people were able to choose different pass options such as cheaper pass excluding evenings, weekends and holidays or more expensive including evenings, weekends and holidays.

Q – Following changes to YPTP which prohibits its use during the evening and weekends, what impact has that had on young people particularly for socialising?

A - Arpana explained it was difficult for young people to work and to complete extracurricular activities. Claude stated it had put off young people from attending social events as they now had to ask their parents for money to cover the cost of travel. Joseph noted that he was aware of young people who were no longer able to attend or get home from sporting fixtures as a result of changes to the YPTP.  Claude highlighted a personal experience; he played for a hockey team and used the bus to get to practice sessions and matches but there was a period of two hours during the day where there were no buses which often resulted in him needing a lift from his parents which was disruptive.

Q –Was the Committee pleased with the response rate to the survey?

A – Joseph explained that the survey was conducted by KYCC Members who were full time students. The KYCC Members had to print out the surveys and encourage students at their schools to complete them. The Committee would have liked to have received more responses but they were limited by the amount of time they could give to collect and analyse the data in addition to their studies.

Q - In the survey a number of people indicated that they travelled more than twice a day. What reason did they travel more than twice a day (other than for going to school)? 

A – Claude explained that young people used public transport to get to youth clubs. Joseph stated that the Committee would be happy to collect further data about this on behalf of the Select Committee.

Q – Question 2 of the survey looked at satisfaction with the journey. Were the participants asked to list the categories in priority order?

A – Joseph explained that participants were asked to rate each category and the categories were randomly listed.

Q – Could a subsidised smart card be used as an alternative to the YPTP?

A- Joseph explained that it would depend on the level of subsidisation.

A Member suggested that a zoning system for concessionary travel could be explored with the bus companies.

Q – Have you been made aware of bus routes which finish too early in the day?

A – Joseph explained that he did not have specific feedback but could imagine it being a problem. He noted that in his local area Stagecoach services ran fairly regularly.

 Q – How did you get statistics about train use? Have you been able to meet with the train providers?

A – Joseph explained that the survey was given to all young people who used public transport; approximately 25% of respondents used train travel. He noted that it had been difficult to get a meeting with the train providers.

The Chairman invited the KYCC representatives to lobby their local County Councillors, in advance of the budget meeting of the Kent County Council, for the use of YPTP during the evenings and holidays

A Member suggested that Mr Arnold from Stagecoach be invited to be a witness before the Committee. The Chairman noted that Philip Norwell (Managing Director, Stagecoach South East) had already attended before the Committee.